TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4281, 9 December 1874, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] ■ Auckland, Tuesday. The citizen’s ball in honor of the new Governor last night was attended by 200 ladies and gentlemen, and was of a ;very enjoyable character. In replying to the toast of his health, the Marquis of Normanby said that the English form of government was the best system of republic. He entertained no fear of difficulty arising between the colonies and Great Britain. He would take the first opportunity of travelling the colony from end to end. Sir George Amey made an excellent speech on the toast. Referring to ex-Governor Grey, he said—“ Governor Browne was succeeded by a man indeed of loftier genius ; a man who had devoted a larger portion of his life than perhaps any other gentleman to government training, and as far as in him lay conciliating the native race to the government of the Crown of England. He still lives amongst us. No man probably met with more opposition in the course of Ms career. No one had to deal with. subjects which called for greater debate and wider expression of public opinion, and yet I am quite sure that when we think of him now, living still amongst us, taking delight in the beautiful island which charms him to cultivate, manifesting a strong interest in the affairs of a colony which he loves eo, we look back with pride upon the name of Sir George Grey.” . 4 p.m. The weather is cloudy, with breaks here and there. The scud will probably, clear off before to-morrow. ' Present' appearances are more encouraging than they were early in the morning. The Governor proceeds south fromManukau on Thursday morning. 7 p.m. ■ The day. has closed with, the sky still overcast and threatening. Allender’s creditors have ■ x-esolved to accept a composition of six shillings in the pound. A child named Lamh, left alone in a house in Hai’ding-street, accidentally set herself on fire. The neighbours hearing her screams rushed in’ and threw the child into a butt of of water. She was severely burned, but ■will probably recover. - ' Grahamstown, Tuesday. A meeting of borough councillors, chairman of the Highway Eoad Board, and others, was held last night, and a deputation appointed to wait upon. Sir Donald.McLean, on his visit to, the Thames, to urge upon him the construction of roads to Tauranga and Waikato, and to bring under his notice the desirability of making the Thames Valley railway. The Advertiser's correspondent reports that Mi-. Mackay had a meeting with the natives yesterday, l ' when he informed them he had interviewed the Government, and had full power to settle all matters affecting Ohinemuri. After discussion, it was'decided unanimously, says the correspondent, that the gold should bo given up, and that the land should be placed in Te Hira’s hands, as trustee for the tribe. There were no dissentients to this. A workman at the Hauraki Saw-mills had the thumb and three fingers of bis right baud cut off by a circular saw yesterday. A miner’s leg has been severely crushed by, the fall of a tree. . ■ Napier, Tuesday. The qualified members of the Napier Artillery Volunteers fired for colonial representatives this morning, with the following results; — Greer, 90 points ; Ileiiouf, 88 ; Sellars, 70 ; Provo, 69. Returns from Poverty Bay and Wairoa have yet to be, received. The difficulty as to site for the post and telegraph office 1 htts been arranged. The building is to be erected a few feet further back from Bhakcspcare-road, and impinging a few feet into Browning-street. Madamo Goddard’s concerts to-morrow and next day are likely to be a great success. New Plymouth, Tuesday. All the immigrants who. have arrived hero lately are being hired at fair average wages. Gbeytown, Tuesday. The racecourse at Tauherenikau is m splendid condition' for tho races, which 7 take place on Thursday and Friday. ; . Tub Bluff, Tuesday. , A strong easterly wind is blowing, with 'niisty weather and drizzling rain. 1 There are indications, however, . of. the, weather clearing up.

Hokitika, Tuesday. The schooner Eliza Firth, from Melbourne, brings news to the 25th November, which has been partly anticipated. The Otago arrived late on the 24th. The Wave, from The Bluff, has arrived at Newcastle. Breadstuffs continue neglected. Quotations: £l2 10s. for flour, which is wanted but not offered. The Local Government Bill has at length been passed by the Legislative Assembly. The Fulton Foundry look-out, has not yet been settled. Blondin is still performing in spite of adverse weather. The Assembly of New . South Wales is debating warmly the action of the Government in releasing Gardiner. Measles and other diseases caused seventy deaths at Moonta, S. A., within a month. Eeefton, Tuesday. The headless body of a Chinaman has been found in the left-hand branch of the Inangahua river. He is supposed to have been murdered. . Christchurch, Tuesday. Bain fell last night, and the sky looked bad this morning ; but now it is clearing, and the barometer has a slightly upward tendency. Thus good hopes are entertained of fine weather for observing the transit of Venus to-morrow In addition to the English party at Burnham’ a large number of local amateurs have made arrangements for observing the transit. A narrow escape from fire, under singular circumstances, occurred at Warner’s Hoteh yesterday. The rays of the sun shining through the bedroom window were focalized by a glass water-bottle oh to the towel with such effect as to cause its ignition, and the table was just commencing to, bum when the fire was discovered. 7 p.m. The sky is again thickly overcast, and the barometer shows rather a downward tendency. Lyttelton, Tuesday. The weather is gloomy and overcast. Much anxiety prevails as to the state of the atmosphere to-morrow. Dunedin, Tuesday. The observation of Venus will, be made at the meteorological station, Dunedin, by Messrs Pope, Boss, and Skey. There is thick drizzly rain now, and it is likely to last. The first glazed-ware furnace in the colony was fired by the Superintendent at White’s Milton pottery works yesterday....